Locked radiator filler cap



June 12, '1 928.

H. W. WILSON LOCKED RADIATOR FILLER CAP Filed Dec. 21, 1925 n W W "M I d WM m% m I fl m h M Patented J mm 12, 1928.

HENRY W. WILSON, OFKNEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCKED RADIATOR rrLLnncAP.

Application filed December 21 1923. SerialNo. 681,981.

This invention relates to locked radiator filling caps and temperature indicator supports for automobile radiators, though it is noted that the invention is not limited to indicator support-s nor in some respects to locked caps.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is easily opened and closed and applied to the radiator, but which will be substantially proof against theft of the cap or indicator.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device of this kind which will not be split or disabled from heat expansion.

- Another object of the invention is to pro vide in a device of this kind a suitable drainage means for draining the cap of collected moisture or water and for facilitatingelean l'ng but which will be closed during filling.

Otherobjects of the invention are to improve generally the simplicity and efficiency of such devices and to "provide a device or apparatus of this kind which is durable, economical to manufacture, apply and operate and which will not get out of order.

Still other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the invention are described, the invention is not limited to these since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. a

The inventive features, for the aecon1- plishment of these and other objects are,

shown herein in connection with an iniproved filling cap which, briefly stated, includes a lower shell portion adapted to be screwed on ,a radiator spout and having a horizontal seat provided with a semi-circular opening, and a weeper duct draining said seat. A valve on said seat and provided with a filling opening registorahlo with said semi-circular opening supports a temperature indicator or a motoinetersecured on said valve for turning the valve and is held place by anupper shell portion resting on said seat and having a shoulder engaged over said valve. A spring washer forced into registering grooves ofsaid shell portions permanently holds said upper portion in place on the seat; and a special rivet passes through said lower shell portion and spout to prevent theft of the cap as a whole. Said shoulder of the upper portion is provided with diametrically disposed indentations into which maybe spring-pressed one of anumbero'f balls disposed in upwardly opening bores in said valve. Impressed lips iorined at llie mouth of said bores with a stak ng tool hold the balls in place.

In theaccoinpanying drawing, sl'iowing by way oi example, one of many possible e1nbodin'lents of the invention,

Fig. 1 18 a front elevation partly in vertical sectiontaken onthe line 1--1 of Fig. 2,

looking in the direction of the arrow of said line; i i i Fig. 2 is a plan of the cap, the tempera ture indicator being removed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan showing the valve seat;

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrow of said line;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in elevation, also taken on the line H of Fig. 3 and showing the constructionoi the rivet;

V Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view showing the valve member;

Fig. 6 is a plan showing the spring washer; and

i Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, showing the ball detent, the staking tool being shown in dotted lines.

My improved cap is shown in combination with a threaded radiator spout 10 of I an automobile radiator 11 and includes a lower shell portion 12 which maybe made in various sizes to be screwed on or in the spout, depending upon the size of the spout. Said cap 12 is providedwith a horizontal seat 15 having therein a large approxr inately semi-circular opening 16 (Fig. 3) over which is rotatably disposed a disk valve 17 (Fig. 5) provided with a central bore 18 and a lower boss 19 (Fig. 1) surrounding the bore and engaging in a cut-out 20 (Fig. 3) formed in the straight'side 21 of said semi-circular opening.

Said valve 17 when in one position closes said send-circular opening 16 by means of the impertorate part 22 of the valve, the opposite part of said valve being provided with a large semi-annular arcuate filling opening 23 registerabl'e with said semi-cirfilling opening; and thelower face of said bridge and the intrainarginal part of the cular opening 16 when the valve is in' the lower face of said half are cut-out as at 26 and 27 for reducing the weight of the valve, affording better contact with the seat'and increasing the effective size of the openlng.

Said lower shell ortion 12 is provided in its lower part wit 1 a radial hole 30 (Fig. a having a countersink 31 at its outer end adapted to receive a small drill whereb the spout may be drilled with a pin ho e alined therewith for the reception of a p n 31 passed through said holes and held in place by a hollow split rivet 35 received on the outer end of said pin and tightly engaging in said radial hole with its point turned out against said spout and its head 37 in said countersink to prevent withdrawal of the pin or removal of the lower shell, thus to prevent theft of the cap.

Said lower shell portion is also provided with a \veeper duct or orifice 38 (Fig. 4) open along the top face of the seat as at 39 (Fig. 41) and extending out through the wall of the cap to drain said face of Water that might. collect or freeze thereon or be used for washing dust or mud from the cap.

An upwardly flared upper annular shell portion 40 (Fig. 1) resting within said lower shell portion on the margin of said seat and having radial arms 41 resting in diametric notches 42 (Fig. of the lower portion to position the upper portion, is provided with an inner annular shoulder 43 (Fig. 1) engaging over said valve to hold the latter in place. Said upper shell portion 40 being protected from heat by said lower portion 12, said seat 15, and the valve, expands less than the lower portion 12, thus to avoid any danger of breakage of the latter due to heat expansion. 2) of the filling opening 23 are outwardly beveled to form a funnel-like opening into which the flared upper shell 40 directs the liquid poured therein. Said upper shell portion 410 has near its lower part an outer groove 17 1) registering with a similar inner groove 48 of the lower portion, whereby to receive a spring ring or washer 50 (Figs. 1 and 6) forced into said inner groove and springing into the outer groove for permanently holding said upper shell portion in place.

Upwardly opening bores 51 (Figs. 1 and 7) in the margin of said valve 17 provided with inu ressed lips 52 formed with a staking tool 53 carry'balls 54 upwardly pressed by springs 55 against said shoulder and one of them into one of a pair of diametrically opposite indentations 56 (Fig. 1) and yieldably positioning the valve when the valve is turned to full open or full closed position. Said balls at all times hold the valve yieldably on the seat.

A motometer or temperature indicator 58 serving as an ornamental handle for the valve and its pedestal 59 resting on said The ends 45 (Fig.-

valve with the pedestal in embedding engagement with a pointed pin 60 to prevent the turning of the motometer relative to the valve. The threaded stem 62 of the motometer extends through and below said central bore 18 of the valve and receives one or two nuts 63 and 64 on said stem and engaging a lock washer 65 and pressing it into locking engagement with sald stem, the adjacent nut and the hub.

The upper shell portion 40 (Fig. 1) is provided in its front face with an oblong recess 67, screw holes at both ends of the recess and a manufacturers monogram 69 at the middle of the recess. An owners detachable monogram plate 70 may be secured in said recess over said monogram by means of screws 71 passing through said plate into said screw holes, thereby to permit the owner to substitute his own monogram, hisclubs or other indicia on the cap.

The cap is sent out assembled; I The method of assembling is as follows:

A lower shell portion 12 is selected ofthe proper size. The upper shell 10 is placed over the valve, the motometer is applied to the valve, the lock washer applied and the nut or nuts 63 and 6d screwed home to cause the projection 60 to embed in the pedestal 59 and the washer to lock.

A spring ring 50 being in the groove 47 of the shell portion, and the latter, with the monogram forward, is forced down into the lower shell port-ion until the arms 41 seat in the recesses 42 to position the upper portion and the spring ring snaps out into the groove 48 of the outer shell portion, thus securely and permanently locking the upper shell portion in the lower portion, to prevent the removal ofthe motometer or any part of the cap.

The thus assembled cap is then screwed on by hand as far as it will go and then turned back until the radial hole 30 points to the rear and the opening 16 is to the front. Then the hole 32 is drilled and the rivet'35 with the pin 34 therein is driven home so the inner end will rivet against the spout and the body of the rivet will tightly engage the hole 30 and the pin, the head 37 being too deep in the countersink to be removed by thieves.

lVhen the filling opening :23 is rearward, the opening 16 is closed and the weeper duct is open, to permit any liquid collectingin the opening to drain out. If any dust collects on the valve seat it may be washed out through the weeper duet. In any position,

a handleuntil the filling opening 23 moves forward tofull open position. Then water poured into the upper shell portion, said portion and said beveled .ends serving as a tunnel for thewater. After the radiator is filled to the required height, the valve is moved to closed position.

I claim:

1. In radiator closure, an adapter of 7 variable externally or-internally threadeddiameter but of uniform outside diameter with a flanged top, means "for: securing the ring to the threaded radiator spout, the flanged 1 a said weep orifices being closed or blanked when the closure or valve is 'movedto open position.

3. In combination, a lower shell portion adapted to be locked on a radiator spout and having a seat provided with an opening; a valve on said seat provided with an opening registerable with the seat opening; an 1113-" per shell portion locked to said lower portion and having a shoulder over said valve; and means secured on said valve for turning the valve. v i

i. In combination, a radiator spout; a radiator cap including a lower shell portion adapted to be screwed on said spout; said shell portion being provided in its lower part with a radial hole having a countersink at its outer end; the spout being drilled with a pin hole alined therewith; and a pin passed through said holes; a hollow rivet received on the outer end of said pin and tightly engaging in said radial hole with its point turned out against said spout and its head in said countersink to prevent withdrawal of the pin or removal of the cap, thus to prevent theft of the cap. v

5. In combination, a lower shell portion adapted to be screwed 011 a spout, having an, inner groove near the top edge, and a horizontal seat below said groove provided with a seat opening; a valve on saidseat provided with an opening registerable with the seat opening; and an upper shell portion disposed in said lower portion over said valve; said upper shell portion having near its lower part an outer groove registering with said inner groove of the lower portion; a spring washer forced into said outer groove and springing into the inner groove for permanently holding said upper shell portion in place.

latter.

6. In combination, a lower shell portion adapted to be screwed on a radiator spout -excessive heat expansion.

7. In C(Jl'llbllltt-tlOIl, a lower shell portion having an upstanding wall and a seat provided with an opening; a valve on said sea-t "provided with an opening registerable with secured within said wall over said valve; sa d upper portion being protected from the seatopening; and an upper shell. portion heatby the'lo-wer portion and valve and therefore expanding less from heat than the lower portionthus to avoid breakage of the a 8. In combination, a lower shell portion having a seat provided with avallve opening and aduct' extending from said seat out through the shell; and a valve on said seat provided with an opening registerable with the seat opening.

9. In combination, a shell portion having aseat; a valve on said seat; and means for draining said seat when the valve'is closed, and closed by the valve when the valve is open.

10. In combination, a lower shell portion having aseat provided with a substantially semi-circular slot opening; and a valve on said seat provided with an imperforate portion anda substantially semi-circular openingregisterable with the seat opening; and

an upper shell portion secured to said lower portion over said valve; said valve being provided with a bridge disposed radially across said filling opening, the lower face of said bridge and the intramarginal part of the lower face of said inperforate portion being cut-out for reducing the weight of the valve and increasing the effective opening of the seat.

11. In combination, a lower shell portion having a seat provided with an opening; a valve on said seat provided with an opening registerable with the seat opening; an upper shell portion secured to said lower portion .over said valve; and means including a recess 1110110 of said portions and a lug on the other portioncngaged in said recess for preventing rotation of the upper portion.

12. In combination, a lower shell portion having upper edge notches and a valve seat; a valve on said seat; and an upper shell portion secured to said lower portion over said valve and provided with lateral arms engaged in said notches.

13. In combination, a lower shell portion adapted to be screwed on a radiator spout and having a seat provided with a seat opening; a valve on said seat provided with an opening registerable with the seat opening; an upper shell portion locked in saidlower portion and having a shoulder over said valve; and a motometer secured on said valve and forming an ornamental handle for turning the valve. v

14. In combination, a lower shell portion having a seat provided with an opening; a valve on said seat provided with an opening registerable with the seatopening; an upper shell portion locked in said lower portion and having an annular shoulder over said valve provided with depressions; and yieldable means secured on said valve for engagement in the depressions to position the valve.

15. In combination, a lower shell portion adapted to be secured on a radiator spout and having a seat provided with a seat ning; and a valve on said seat having a. ore therein; provided with an opening registerable with the seat opening; an upper shell portion locked in said lower portion and having a shoulder over said valve havin an indentation therein; and a ball in said ore yieldably pressed against said shoulder, and at times into said indentation.

16. In combination, a lower shell portion having a seat provided with an opening; a valve on said seat rovided with an opening registerable with the seat opening; an upper shell portion locked in said. lower portion and having a shoulder over said valve; pedestal means on said valve for turning the valve; and projecting means secured on said valve embedded inthe pedestal means for preventing the turning of the valve relative to the pedestal means.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 20th day of December A. D. 1923.

HENRY W. WILSON. 

